Paint tray and pail combination

ABSTRACT

A paint tray for use in loading paint rollers and painting pads which can be or is assembled with a pain pail to receive a proper amount of paint directly therefrom. The tray has a sealing system on the bottom for removably sealing it to the pail and also has a valveless inlet properly disposed for permitting flow of the paint from the pail directly into the tray upon tipping the tray and pail assembly, and the tray also includes an end hood portion for containing the paint during tipping. The inlet can also function as an overflow return for returning paint to the can.

" United States Patent (72] inventor [54] PAINT TRAY AND PAIL COMBINATION 15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 151257.06, 222/4245 [51] Int. Cl 844d 3/12 [50] Field oiSearch 15/25706,

[56] Reierenees Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,482 5/1929 Schmyziger 222/424.5

Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord ABSTRACT: A paint tray for use in loading paint rollers and painting pads which can be or is assembled with a pain pail to receive a proper amount of paint directly therefrom. The tray has a sealing system on the bottom for removably sealing it to the pail and also has a valveless inlet properly disposed for permitting flow of the paint from the pail directly into the tray upon tipping the tray and pail assembly, and the tray also includes an end hood portion for containing the paint during tipping. The inlet can also function as an overflow return for returning paint to the can.

PATENTEU JUL 6197! 2 FIGZ INVENTOR. ERIK HENNINGSEN ATTORNEYS.

PAINT TRAY AND PAIL COMBINATION This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 616,892, filed Feb. 17, I967 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to paint trays for use in loading paint rollers, painting pads and the like and to a combination of such a tray with a paint pail.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years paint rollers have become more and more popular for use in painting, not only in industrial use but especially by the householder. Such popularity, together with increasing popularity of the more recently introduced painting pads, has resulted in an increased need for conveniently usable paint trays for loading paint onto the paint rollers and painting pads. Although such paint trays may differ in appearance, there are generally two types of trays in popular use. First is an open tray which has a trough atone end for containing a limited supply of paint and includes a sloping roll out surface leading away from the trough toward the other end of the tray. The second is similar to the first but includes a hood over the paint holding end of the tray.

The first type of tray, termed a simple tray, has several shortcomings, It is relatively shallow and holds only a limited paint supply. It is filled by pouring paint from a pail and this introduces the hazard of spilling; once filled it is difficult to carry without further spilling. Additionally, under some condi tions, e.g. outdoors on a hot windy day, evaporation of paint solvents from the large open paint surface in the simple tray tends to thicken the paint supply. The second type of tray, termed a hooded tray, lessens storage hazards and evaporation but usually not enough to warrant the additional expense, and

I this tray has therefore been used primarily for special industrial use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a combination of paint pail and tray wherein the tray is removably mounted by sealing means to the pail top.

Also provided is a paint tray which can 'be used in the combination and overcomes the drawbacks of the present popular A paint trays as outlined above. The paint tray is of suitable size for loading a roller or painting'pad and a connection is provided between the tray and pail such that the tray can be filled by tilting the combined tray and pail assembly to a sufficient angle for a period of time to deliver the desired amount of paint from the pail to the tray through the connection. When the assembly is returned to its normal use position. with :the

pail upright, a desired quantity of paint remains in the tray.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the paint tray of this invention shown assembled with a paint pail;

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate the assembly of FIG. I in cross section taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the paint tray shown exploded from a paint pail; and FIG. 6 illustrates the assembled paint tray and pail of FIG. 5 in cross section.

Referring first to FIGS. I and 2, the paint tray 12 is secured and sealed to the open top of a paint pail 14 by a suitable sealing system at 16 (FIG. 2). The sealing system 16 is shown in the form of a resilient sealing ring secured to the bottom of tray 12 and properly sized to be force or tight fitted into the drip lip of the paint pail I4. The ring forms a seal to close the pail in much the same manner as the paint pail lid forms such a seal.

For loading the tray 12 with paint from pail 14, a connection through the bottom wall of tray 12 is provided in the form of a standpipe pour spout l8. Tray 12 is of the type having a hood portion 20 enclosing one end thereof to define a container for containing paint during filling of the tray as will be described. A vent 22 is also provided spaced beyond spou't 18 away from the hood portion 20 and the container defined thereby. The form of vent 22 illustrated is a vent tube which upstands through the bottom wall of tray 12 and extends upward and away from spout 18 to a position spaced well above the normal paint level in the tray. The direction of the vent 22 away from spout 18 decreases the possibility of discharge of paint from pail 14 through vent 22 while tray 12 is being filled.

It will be apparent that the tray 12 can readily be filled with paint from'pail 14 by tipping the assembled tray and pail as shown in FIG. 3 to pour paint from pail 14 through spout l8 and into the container portion of tray 12 as defined by hood 20. Once suflicient paint has been poured into tray 12, the assembly is returned 'to its upright position as shown in FIG. 4. Any excess paint at a level above the upper edge of the standpipe pour spout I8 overflows through the pour spout and returns to pail 14 leaving the proper amount of paint in tray 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Because the center of gravity of the assembled tray and pail is low, especially. where an appreciable quantity of paint remains in the pail, a stable, balanced device is provided.

The combined assembly of tray and pail can be placed on any level or approximately level surface during use and can be equipped with a hanger system such as the hanger 24 for transport and for hanging on a ladder. The tray can be sized so that the hanger will pass over both ends thereof or at least over the end opposite hood 20 so that the hanger can be used to hold the assembly during filling of tray -12. A larger hanger than normally supplied on a paint pail may be required, and this can be supplied as a replacement hanger together with the tray.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 has been described as an assembly of a separate tray and pail with a releasable seal 16 therebetween, it is contemplated that the seal 16 can be a permanent seal providing a complete preassembled unit including both a tray and paint reservoir or pail. In such a combined unit, the pail portion can be readily filled by a funnel or the like through spout 18. The spout and vent can be sealed, if desired, and the device can be used as the original container for marketing the paint.

Where it is intended that a paint roller be loaded from the tray, it may be desirable to provide a sloped roll out surface. This can conveniently be done by placing an insert in tray 12 as indicated in phantom at 26 in FIG. 2.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a preferred form of the paint tray 30 is shown in combination with a paint pail 32. Paint tray 30 is especially useful for loading painting pads and is designed to provide the proper amount of paint in the tray for use in loading a paint pad. Tray 30 is connected to pail 32 by a threaded connection which seals the tray bottom wall across the pail opening. The threaded connection includes a female threaded circular flange 34 depending from the bottom wall of tray 30 and a male thread 36 at the upper portion of pail 32. The pail can be sold in combination with the tray or the tray can be sold alone for use with a paint pail supplied full of paint tapered or frustoconical outer surface for engaging the inside portion of the pail lip to rigidify the pail lip and minimize distortion of the pail due to the weight of the paint contained in the pail during assembly or use. A handle 40 is provided on tray 30 shaped to fit a ladder rung so that the assembly can be hung from a ladder, circular flange 38 retaining the pail lip from deforming and becoming disengaged from the threads so that the pail remains supported from the tray.

The tray bottom wall is provided with an inlet 42 partially surrounded by an upstanding dam or wall 44 for delivering paint from the pail to the tray. A hooded container portion 45 is again provided in the tray and the bottom wall of the tray is provided with crossing ribs 48 to assist in proper paint loading. The vent 46 through the bottom wall has a short standpipe 50 about the same height as ribs 48. Vent 46 is small enough that it does not function as a drain to return surplus paint from tray 30 to pail 32.

Tray 30 and pail 32 can each be molded as an integral onepiece plastic member. Handle 40 is preferably made separately of metal and secured to tray 32 by a pair of suitable pivotal connections so that the tray, with the paint pail attached, is free to swing from the handle in normal fashion.

It will be evident from the foregoing that l have provided a paint tray which is combined or combinablewith a paint holding reservoir or pail. The tray has a hooded portion at one end and a relatively large open planar area with a relatively shallow depth as required for practical paint loading of a paint roller or painting pad. The paint within the pail portion is properly protected from the drying effects of the atmosphere, and the combination of tray and pail is interconnected with a simple valveless transfer connection which permits the paint to be poured from the pail into the tray in a very convenient manner and which minimizes paint spillage. The paint transfer system can be used to also automatically control the maximum paint depth in the tray. Further, the pail portion adds physical stability and balance to the combined unit.

I claim:

1. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position.

2. The tray of claim 1 including a vent through said bottom wall.

3. The tray of claim 1 wherein said container portion comprises an end wall of the tray extending inwardly to overlie a portion of the tray bottom wall.

4. The combination comprising the tray of claim 1 and a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means.

5. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, and a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means, wherein said sealing means comprises a threaded portion of said pail received in an inside threaded circular flange extending downwardly from the tray bottom wall and including a circular backup ring for the pail lip comprising a ring on said bottom wall concentric with and spaced inwardly from said circular flange, said ring having a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip as the pail is threaded into said flange.

6. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall for delivering paint to the container portion and a vent through the bottom wall having a stack upstanding to an upper level at least to the intended paint level of the tray.

7. The paint holding tray of claim 6 including means for sealing said bottom wall across a paint pail opening.

8. The paint holding tray of claim 1 wherein said inlet is in said container portion and including lateral passage means in said dam means for directing paint laterally into said container portion during pouring and forming a passage for easier return of paint through said inlet.

9. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, said sealing means comprising a circular threaded flange depending from said bottom wall for threaded engagement with a threaded paint pail lip and ring means associated with said circular flange for rigidifying the paint pail lip with the flange threads threaded thereon.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said circular flange is internally threaded and the paint pail lip is externally threaded and said ring means is a backup ring on the bottom wall of the tray concentric with and spaced inwardly from the circular flange and has a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip as the pail is threaded into the flange.

11. The combination of claim 9 including a handle secured to said tray for supporting said tray and in turn supporting the pail through the threaded connection.

12. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, a vent through the bottom wall separate from said inlet and a standpipe around said vent extending above the bottom wall of the tray member.

13. The paint holding tray of claim 12 including crossing ribs on the bottom wall of the tray extending upwardly about the same height as said standpipe.

14. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means and a handle secured solely to said tray for supporting the combined tray and pail, said sealing means being sufficient to support the pail full of paint from said tray.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said handle comprises a rectangular hook for hooking the handle to a rectangular rung of a ladder. 

1. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position.
 2. The tray of claim 1 including a vent through said bottom wall.
 3. The tray of claim 1 wherein said container portion comprises an end wall of the tray extending inwardly to overlie a portion of the tray bottom wall.
 4. The combination comprising the tray of claim 1 and a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means.
 5. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, and a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means, wherein said sealing means comprises a threaded portion of said pail received in an inside threaded circular flange extending downwardly from the tray bottom wall and including a circular backup ring for the pail lip comprising a ring on said bottom wall concentric with and spaced inwardly from said circular flange, said ring having a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip as the pail is threaded into said flange.
 6. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall for delivering paint to the container portion and a vent through the bottom wall having a stack upstanding to an upper level at least to the intended paint level of the tray.
 7. The paint holding tray of claim 6 including means for sealing said bottom wall across a paint pail opening.
 8. The paint holding tray of claim 1 wherein said inlet is in said container portion and including lateral passage means in said dam means for directing paint laterally into said container portion during pouring and forming a passage for easier return of paint through said inlet.
 9. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, said sealing means comprising a circular threaded flange depending from said bottom wall for threaded engagement with a threaded paint pail lip and ring means associated with said circular flange for rigidifying the paint pail lip with the flange threads threaded thereon.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said circular flange is internally threaded and the paint pail lip is externally threaded and said ring means is a backup ring on the bottom wall of the tray concentric with and spaced inwardly from the circular flange and has a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip as the pail is threaded into the flange.
 11. The combination of claim 9 including a handle secured to said tray for supporting said tray and in turn supporting the pail through the threaded connection.
 12. A paint holding tray for use in loading a rOller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, a vent through the bottom wall separate from said inlet and a standpipe around said vent extending above the bottom wall of the tray member.
 13. The paint holding tray of claim 12 including crossing ribs on the bottom wall of the tray extending upwardly about the same height as said standpipe.
 14. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can, dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the tray in nontipped position, a paint pail removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means and a handle secured solely to said tray for supporting the combined tray and pail, said sealing means being sufficient to support the pail full of paint from said tray.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said handle comprises a rectangular hook for hooking the handle to a rectangular rung of a ladder. 